The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-04-01
JOHN HALLETSS SECRET.

Tho air was clear and dry on the hill.
although the mists of an autumn twi-
light were settling down on the busy little
town in the valley below
Mr.. Hallct had been an invalid for the
last week or two not i'll enough to cause
any alarm, yet not well enough to go to
the city a. usual; and thankful that he
had ShTcWd. sensible son. both able
and willin" to take his place.
Henry threw himself into the breach
manfully. and had even slept in town for
several nights, that he might sit later at
his books, and begin earlier.
The mother would have preferred to
stay and watch for her boys coming; but
Mr. Hallet was calling, and she went to
him. lie was surveying a doomed
honeysuckle.
We planted it the year Henry was
born, he reminded his wife. Il sup
pose you think that would be reason
Tor letting it stand?'
Mrs. HaIlet smiled as she replied
" Nay, John; it is not 1 who give away
TO sentiment"
The words were no sooner spoken than
she wished she had not uttered them, for
frown contracted her husbands brow,
and he raised his eyes involuntarily to
where couple OF windows were nearly
hidden by the passion flower
In the room those windows should
have lighted, John Hallet's father had
spent the closing years OF his life. An
accident rendered him incapable of leav-
ing it, and when he expired. his wife soon
followed him to the grave.
From the day OF the funeral not a
creature was allowed &c enter this room
but old Li-bcth, the trusty German who
had drii.od into the household of the
HaiIot- il her youth.
\ shout from the children proclaimed
that Henry had come.
His first look was for his mother.
After she had satisfied herself that he did
not appear to be any the worse for the
confinement and hard work of the week
she was content to stand quietly by while
business matters were discussed. She
could have fancicd that Henry was
rather restless under the questioning to
which he was subjected.
But at last Mr.. Hallet appeared salts
fed, and he would have led the way in
doors. but now, In eager haste, the young
man poured forth the tidings he had
been burning to tell.
"Such news for you, father Mother
dear what do you think has happened?
Aunt Mary sent for me the other evening
you viii say that that is not a very Un-
common occurrence" and Henry and
Mrs Fallot iuterchanced amused smiles
for Mis- Mary Hallct was one Of the fus-
siost of maiden ladies'. ''Sh6 sent for me
that she might introduce me to some new
relations from over the sea. You had a
brother. papa, who died not long after
my grandI.ther?"
Mr. Hallct did not Immediately reply.
Yes, he had had a half-bTOther whose
restless disposition had induced him to
demand his portion and sail away with it
TO America After many wand"riu-s he
had settled i'm Canada and married.
rriI. had induced him to Doe silent re
.rf- f4 Its lsTF gH.4tf
mi-tJrtuag- that had befallen him; but
Just before the death of the elder Mr..
Hullcr. rWuor reached England that
the CImar.ian farm did not pay. and its
owner W5.- struggling with sickness as
we'll a- AN uuIavOrabic season. Offers OF
help wei sent but they were declined;
those otter, were repeated to Tom Hal
lets widow and again, but more CRATE
fully. refused. Since that time. long
years ago, no intercourse had boon kept
up between the families; what, then did
Henry mean?
1T was to M uncle Toms elder
daughters Aunt Mary introduced me.
They are tall, bright, handsome girls,
merry and frank and unaffected, Vet quite
as lady-like as my sisters Eva and Emma.
They have led a busy life working
with their mother to free the farm OF its
encumbrances. Their lahCrS have been
successful; they are prospcrinE at last:
ana SO JlltN nave Itil LtltlSf'Ihf'~ lll-Illt'l
in taking a trip to England, to make
acquaintance with their kindred"
And crossed the Atlantic alone - ex-
claimed Mrs Hallct.
Oh, no, they came under the wing
of friend, the elderly lady who took
them to Aunt Mary's. They have fasci-
mated her. and" Henry turned to his
silent father, a. and I think am sure
you will like your nieces, sir-they are
charming girls"
But Mr.. Hallet put out his hands, cry
ing hoaTsely: Keep them away from
me! l will not have them here p
And so saying, he went quickly into the
house, whittier his wife would have fol-
lowed If her son had not detained her
Mother. what does this mean2" he
asked. Is my father worse? Is it pos
sible that he knows what he is sayingI
He never had any quarrel with Uncle
Tom, did he? Then what could have
made him speak so Strangely"
Il do not know; perhaps a sudden
spasm. / must 90 to him"
All, yes, go, and beg of him to ex-
plain himself, for they are coming here,
these cousins of mine. l told them in
your name and my fathers, that they
would be welcome; and so / thought
they would. How can 1 meet them
again2 how tell them"
And then grooming I'm his lmpatience
and alarm, Henry hurried his mother in.
II.
On Monday morning Mr.. Hallct pro-
nounced himself able to 90 to business.
They would have pitied him had they
known what a Sunday he had spent,
shutting himself away from his family
because every questioning look they
turned upon him seemed to pierce his
heart and lay bare that which he hid
within IL.
Yes, the upright, honorable John Hal
let had a secret that he had buried so
deep down as to be sometimes forgotten,
until a chance word or recollection would
bring it back to his memory. He had
trouble Of which no one knew anything
but old Lisbeth, and even she did not
suspect its nature.
In all honesty Of purpose she had told
him, as he stood by his mothers coffin,
that Nadam's dearest wish had been to
see her absent son Tom.